Work Permits

The Immigration Law 2003:

Work Permits, Business Staffing Plans & Transitional Provisions

Two of the main features of the new immigration law are that it lengthens the period for which a work permit can be
granted, and it sets a 'term limit' on the amount of time that a person can remain continuously in the Cayman Islands
on work permits (the so-called rollover policy).

Under the law there are now two boards, the Work Permit Board and the Business Staffing Plan Board, to deal with work
permit applications. The Work Permit Board is responsible for applications from businesses employing less than 15 work
permit holders or for individual employers, while the Business Staffing Plan Board deals with applications from companies
employing 15 or more expatriate workers. The Chief Immigration Officer or his designate will deal with applications for
temporary permits.

The boards may grant work permits for up to three years, generally, or for up to five years in the case of domestics,
teachers, doctors and ministers of religion. Five-year permits can also be granted to holders of certain positions that
have been approved under a business staffing plan, which the board now requires from firms employing 15 or more
foreigners.

Term limit

Seven years is the maximum length of time a work permit holder can work continuously in the Cayman Islands. After
this period the board cannot normally grant the person any further work permits until he or she has left the Islands
for at least two years. The only exceptions to this would be a worker designated as an 'exempted employee' in a business
staffing plan, or where the board considers that there are exceptional circumstances. In such cases the board may, at
its discretion, grant additional work permits to enable the person to complete an aggregate period of eight years, thus
making him eligible to apply for the grant of permanent residence.

Persons now on work permits

Important transitional provisions have been included for those who, at 1st January when the law came into effect, had
been working continuously in the Islands for an aggregate period of five years or more (including the period of their
current work permit and any period spent in the Civil Service). If such persons apply for the grant or renewal of further
work permits they may, at the board's discretion, be granted work permits for a period not exceeding three years. This
will enable them to fulfil the eight-year residency period, so they are eligible to apply for permanent residence.
Persons who have been here for between eight and 15 years now have three years within which they may apply for permanent
residence. For those who have been here for more than 15 years, the law provides that their application for permanent
residence, if made within three years of the commencement of this law, shall, in the absence of exceptional circumstances,
be granted.

Business Staffing Plans

While business staffing plans are not new, the law now makes it mandatory that businesses with 15 or more work permit
holders submit a plan. This must be done within one year of the start of the law or the establishment of the business.
For companies employing fewer than 15 work permit holders, a business staffing plan is optional. Employers should note
that if they have an agreed business staffing plan and they wish to apply for work permits for persons to fill positions
not covered in the plan, the applications must be submitted to the Business Staffing Plan Board rather than the Work
Permit Board. This is to discourage any attempt to circumvent the Business Staffing Plan system by going to the Work
Permit Board for additional permits.

Dependents

Another change in the law is that when considering work permit applications the board will now take into account not
only the applicant's ability to maintain the dependents he or she wishes to bring to the Island but those who are
abroad.

Temporary work permits

The one-month temporary and six-month, short-term, work permits have been abolished. Instead, a temporary work permit
may now be issued for a period not exceeding six months. All such applications will be made to, and decided by, the Chief
Immigration Officer or his designate.

Since such grants are not extendable or renewable it will be important for applicants to state clearly the length of
time that the temporary work permit will be required. In deciding whether an application should be granted or refused,
the same criteria will be used as for the grant of a full work permit, except that employers will not be required to
advertise or to demonstrate that they operate a training programme. Employers should also note that a temporary work
permit cannot be converted into a one-year permit. The one-year permit must be submitted and granted prior to the expiry
of the temporary permit if the employee wishes to continue to work.

Fees and fines

The public should note that the regulations to the law are still being finalized. There will be no increase in work
permit fees; however, new categories of occupations, with new fees for these categories, will be introduced as part of
the regulations. This will come about because the occupations currently listed are being revised to bring them in line
with definitions used internationally. Once the regulations are passed, the Immigration Department will issue
comprehensive guidelines and information to assist applicants with this requirement."

One of the important administrative changes affecting work permits is that, once the regulations are issued, work
permit applicants will have to submit all prescribed fees for the first year at the time of application. This includes
the administrative filing fee, the work permit fee and the repatriation fee. If the application is refused, the work
permit and repatriation fees will be refunded. The advantage of this is that once applicants have been notified of
approval, the employee may begin to work immediately.

The law brings, with immediate effect, a substantial increase in the fines for employing persons without a work permit
and for working without a work permit. Fines have increased from CI$2,000 to CI$15,000 in respect of a first offence and
from CI$4,000 to CI$25,000 in respect of a second or subsequent offences.